Ivory Coast Officials Downplay Safety Concerns Over Ammonium Nitrate Shipment

In response to concerns over a ship loaded with ammonium nitrate in Abidjan, Ivory Coast officials maintain that stringent safety protocols are in place. The vessel remains moored while awaiting orders to unload, sparking debates about the handling of hazardous materials in urban ports.

Port authorities in Ivory Coast have attempted to alleviate public concerns regarding a vessel currently docked in Abidjan harbor, which is carrying 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate—an agricultural fertilizer that has the potential to be explosive. Hien Yacouba Sie, the port’s director, assures the public that all safety protocols have been adhered to, even as some residents express alarm over the compound's presence in a densely populated area.

The ammonium nitrate on board the ship, identified as the Zimrida, originates from Russia. It was part of a previous cargo that encountered contamination issues during its journey, leading to a portion being offloaded off the coast of England last year, which drew criticism from local authorities as an act of "environmental terrorism." To mitigate fears, local officials have kept the vessel moored in the outer harbor as a precaution while they assess the condition of the cargo.

Amid the past incidents involving hazardous materials in Abidjan, such as the toxic waste crisis nearly twenty years ago, locals are understandably wary. In a bid to reassure the public, government representatives welcomed journalists, including those from the BBC, aboard the Zimrida to observe the cargo. During this visit, the large quantity of white bags containing the chemical was visible, with a fire truck stationed on the quay as a notable indicator of the potential risks.

Despite the checks that the shipment purportedly passed, there is still no timetable for the unloading process, according to port spokesman Aboubakar Toto. This adherence to protocol has raised questions about the decision to keep the ammonium nitrate in the harbor. Environmental NGO Robin des Bois has voiced its concerns, advising that the ship should not be utilized as a storage unit for such materials.

According to Ivorian authorities, the importation of ammonium nitrate is routine, with over 40,000 tonnes having been handled in 2024 without incident. The current shipment on the Zimrida includes 7,600 tonnes intended for agricultural use in Ivory Coast, while the remainder will be delivered to Luanda, Angola, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania once the ship departs.